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Intrigued by the works of M.C. Escher and Robert Crumb, Scott Benner began his relationship with art at a young age, doodling on graph paper left around the house by his father, an electrical engineer. After years of practice, patience, and perseverance, Scott honed his talent and amassed an ever-growing portfolio representing thousands of hours of dedication and pure craft (if not tens of thousands).

Scott presented this impressive body of work to Liz Powers, ArtLifting Co-founder and Chief Happiness Spreader, in March of 2014.

As Scott recalls about his first meeting with Liz: “I don’t think she was expecting me to show up with what I had, but I brought everything I had, literally my entire life’s work. [It] went back to ’70 or ’71.” Shortly after, Scott saw decades of his art displayed in local art shows for the first time. “Things just grew from there. It’s been incredible. I never expected it to go as far as it has, and I still feel like it’s something that’s growing.”

Masterpieces such as the grandiose Before Hand After Hand—which itself took over 1,000 hours to complete—typically require that Scott create multiple smaller ‘versions’ of the piece before finalizing a larger vision on paper. With each iteration Scott completes, he refines his technique and pattern, ensuring that he does not go overboard with additions and spoil hours or even days of work.

“When you do abstract art, you need to know when to say, ‘enough is enough,” Scott explains. “If you go over that point, [you] end up ruining it, like over-seasoning a sauce.”

By the time he began work on Before Hand After Hand, Scott’s goal was to find the biggest piece of paper he could, along with the sharpest, finest tipped pen, and push himself to new levels of complexity. “That was the whole point—to see how far I could go with it,” he describes.

Scott experiences cluster headaches and bouts of confusion as a result of Horner’s syndrome, which he developed in 2012. After a series of unfortunate events left him without a home and without a job, Scott found solace in his art and saw that others were also touched by his work. After meeting with Liz Powers in 2014, he began selling his creations via ArtLifting.com and has since found housing. Scott does not, however, plan on stopping there:

My focus right now is really working on my art as a full-time thing. This is the first time in my whole life that I can focus this way. When you just draw every now and then, every time you start up, you’re kind of starting from scratch. Now, I’m involved in this never-ending process [where] my ideas are flowing and feeding off each other. I’m actually pursuing it as something I can [do] on a full-time scale. That’s where I’m aiming for now.

Considering his past accomplishments, Scott’s goals are right on point.

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Comments

Sharon Williams on April 24, 2018 00:34

I am so proud of my cousin, Scotty. he is so gifted and am so glad others can now appreciate him and his art. His spirit and his soul are golden.
Love you cuz!

Wayne Everson on July 10, 2017 07:01

Hey Scotty, good for you buddy!

Mary-Lou Moulton on April 15, 2016 15:45

Hey Scotty!
This is incredible!
I am so glad you are finally receiving the accolades that your work deserves.
Well done!
-Lu Moulton

Marie Richardson on April 14, 2016 10:17

I am so glad to read that you can now create beautiful art as much as you want. What a gift for you and what a gift to the world. I look forward to seeing where this takes you and your art, as you grow as an artist. I predict great success.

Tracey Stewart on April 13, 2016 16:54

Hi Scott,
The students and staff at Newton North are still talking about your session from Be Kind Day last Friday! You entered the hearts of so many people and provided much needed inspiration for many. Thank you for sharing your journey with our community! Your work is incredible and your spirit is unbreakable! Keep following your passion!
With gratitude,
Tracey